Radio Assignment Script
“Essential Workers and their new dilemma”
HOST: Front-line workers who throughout the past year and a half put themselves at risk to head to work as many others worked from home, from healthcare workers to delivery drivers. But back then, when New York was the epicenter of the virus, it was the virus that was the most dangerous thing. Now, essential workers tasked with enforcing mask requirements say it’s disgruntled customers who pose the biggest risk to their safety. Joel Garcia has the story.
AMBI: Natural sound of a grocery store
TRACK: I’m here with Monica Sanchez Teles as she scans items at the checkout counter at Prospect Market where she works in the South Slope area. Monica says she’s facing a new dilemma of constantly having to put authority for mask regulations when it’s just her job to ring up customers. Once not long ago appreciated for her work, she’s now in the middle of dealing with difficult customers and protecting her safety.
ACT: MONICA: Some customers would tell me that they are vaccinated so they didn’t have to wear the face masks, while others just stated they didn’t want to wear them since they didn’t care.
TRACK: This wasn’t an isolated incident. Throughout this year, Monica has been facing daily encounters with difficult customers who don’t want to comply.
ACT: MONICA: I feel like they are more rude because some people don’t want to wear their masks.
TRACK: This year all those who were vaccinated had the liberty to take their face masks off, but many decided to also take their face masks off even when private businesses still required them to be on at all times. As of today, the CDC requires face coverings to all of those who aren’t vaccinated over the age of 2.
TRACK: Monica isn’t the only one who has had to risk upsetting customers by telling them about the required masks. Marina who’s also a cashier works a couple of blocks away at Associated Market also in the Park Slope area. Had a regular customer who was outraged when she was told she had to wear a face-covering due to the store’s policy.
ACT: MARINA: A regular customer who used to come into the store was not wearing a facemask but when I told her to wear one because it’s required she freaked out.
TRACK: It’s not that difficult Marina states to put on a face covering, these current masks situations could go as far as attacks on essential workers as we’ve seen in the past few months. It’s always best to get a manager or supervisor to deal with the situation before it dangerously escalates.
TRACK: As more vaccines started rolling out, the requirement of vaccines for some essential workers soon came. Many were hesitant at first to get it but most did it to protect themselves as well as their families. Monica was not required by her job to get the vaccine but chose to do so anyway.
ACT: MONICA: I did it for my family, I have a brother who has asthma that’s very strong so that’s why I did it.
TRACK: Monica will continue as an essential worker throughout this year. Although she does constantly fear for her safety she’s willing to take the risk of coming to work and making sure she pays her bills. Like so many other essential workers they do this out of care and understand that more people are willing to follow the rules, and it’s just a few people who are the cause of this current problem. For Baruch College, I’m Joel Garcia.